Table of Contents

• Essay 1: ‘Moral lessons are at the heart of Wordsworth’s poems.’ Discuss
• Essay 2: ‘Wordsworth’s poetry suggests that humans can never conquer the natural world.’ To what extent do you agree?
• Essay 3: “The world is too much with us; late and soon, / Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: … ‘Wordsworth’s poetry shows that he is frustrated with the world.’ Discuss.
• Essay 4: “Wordsworth’s poetry offers a hopeful view, despite his concerns about the world around him.” Discuss.
• Essay 5: How does Wordsworth’s poetry draw upon memories in order to contemplate the present?
• Essay 6: Many of these poems deal with loss – lost dreams and lost visions of the past. Do you agree?

‘Moral lessons are at the heart of Wordsworth’s poems.’ Discuss

William Wordsworth, a central figure in the Romantic movement, explores the interplay between nature, human existence, and moral reflection in his poetry. His works often reveal a profound engagement with the natural world, using it as a mirror to understand human values and emotions. Primarily, Wordsworth proposes that by contemplating our interactions with nature, individuals can attain moral insights and cultivate a deeper understanding of their values. However, he also illustrates that a harmonious relationship exists between nature and human creation. Beyond the moral lessons derived from nature, Wordsworth emphasizes that true worth and beauty are often found in those who lead quiet lives and remain unrecognized by the wider world.

Predominantly, Wordsworth suggests that by reflecting on our experiences with nature, individuals can gain moral insights and develop a more profound understanding of their moral values. This reflective process is central to poems like “The Prelude,” where the poet traces his own intellectual and moral development. At first, Wordsworth is absorbed in the pleasure of rowing alone and enjoying the beauty of the moonlit lake. His actions are marked by a sense of stealth and pleasure as he moves through the water, leaving “small circles glittering idly in the moon. “The sudden appearance of the cliff, growing larger and more imposing, shatters his initial tranquility. The cliff, described as having “voluntary power instinct” and moving “like a living thing,” symbolizes a force of nature that is both awe-inspiring and frightening. The experience with the cliff contributes to Wordsworth’s broader understanding of nature’s power and its impact on the human soul. He concludes that nature has elevated his thoughts to “high objects” and “eternal things,” thus purifying his feelings and thoughts. Additionally, in “Lines Written in Early Spring,” Wordsworth reflects deeply on the relationship between nature and humanity, and this reflection leads to a poignant moral insight about human nature. After witnessing nature’s joy and vitality, the poet is saddened by the disparity between this natural harmony and the state of humanity. The poet’s observation that “much it grieved my heart to think / What man has made of man” reveals that he is troubled by the fact that, despite nature’s inherent beauty and joy, humanity has created conditions of suffering and conflict. Thus, by reflecting on his experiences with nature, the poet William Wordsworth conveys a profound moral lesson: that human actions and societal constructs often fall short of the natural harmony and simplicity observed in the natural world.

Despite this, Wordsworth also arms the reader with the understanding that there is a harmony between the nature and human creation. In “Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802,” William Wordsworth reflects on the beauty and majesty of London as seen from Westminster Bridge early in the morning. The poet likens the city to a garment adorned with ‘the beauty of the morning’. This simile suggests that the city is dressed in a new and fresh splendour as the morning light illuminates it. The phrase “at his own sweet will“ suggests that the river moves freely and effortlessly, guided by its natural course without any external constraints. By personifying the river in such a serene and autonomous manner, Wordsworth emphasizes that even in an urban setting, nature retains its majesty and power. The river’s effortless movement within the city underscores that nature’s grandeur and tranquility are not diminished by human development but are instead enhanced by it, highlighting the harmony between these two things. Moreover, in Wordsworth’s poem “The Solitary Reaper,“ one compelling example of the harmony between human creation and nature can be found in the depiction of the Highland Lass and her song. The poem describes how the reaper’s song, “a melancholy strain,” reverberates through the vale, suggesting that even her sorrowful music is in harmony with its surroundings. By contrasting the reaper’s voice ‘so thrilling’ with the natural sounds of ‘the Cuckoo-bird’, Wordsworth celebrates the way human creations can mirror and even surpass natural beauty, highlighting the harmony between human expression and the natural world. Thus, these two poems by Wordsworth impart the moral lesson that the natural world and human creations can exquisitely harmonize, uncovering a deep symbiosis that accentuates the profound beauty and resonance in both nature and human artistry.

Whilst many moral lessons are relating to nature, Wordsworth also conveys the message that true worth and beauty can often be found in those who live quietly and are unappreciated by the broader world. William Wordsworth’s poem “She Dwelt among the Untrodden Ways” is a poignant and evocative reflection on the notion. Despite Lucy’s ‘untrodden ways’ of lifestyle, suggesting her seclusion and solitude, her death can still make ‘a difference to [the poet]’. Wordsworth’s portrayal of Lucy reflects Romantic ideals of beauty and virtue found in simplicity and nature. Thus, the poem romanticises Lucy’s quiet, unassuming existence as both poignant and beautiful, celebrating her life and death as meaningful despite their lack of public recognition. Furthermore, the poet’s moral insight is also evident through his poem ‘To Touissaint L’Overture’. Wordsworth acknowledges Toussaint’s deep personal anguish and the fact that he died in captivity as he depicts the activist in ‘deep dungeon’s earless den’ and could ‘never to rise again’. The poet suggests that Toussaint’s true value is found not in his immediate circumstances but in the broader, enduring impact he has made. The “exultations, agonies, and love” signify a deeper, more intrinsic beauty and worth that transcend his physical situation. Thus, this aligns with the idea that true worth and beauty can exist beyond visible or immediate recognition. Therefore, the author uses these excerpts to teach that true worth and beauty can often be found in individuals who live quietly or face suffering, and their lasting impact and legacy can be profoundly significant despite lacking public recognition.

In summary, William Wordsworth’s poetry intricately weaves together reflections on nature, human existence, and moral values, demonstrating how natural experiences can lead to profound ethical insights. Primarily, Wordsworth posits that through the contemplation of our interactions with the natural world, individuals can derive profound moral insights and cultivate a more nuanced understanding of their ethical values. Nevertheless, he also elucidates the existence of a sublime harmony between nature and human creation. Beyond the moral revelations afforded by nature, Wordsworth underscores that true worth and beauty frequently reside in those who lead lives of serene obscurity and remain overlooked by the broader world.

‘Wordsworth’s poetry suggests that humans can never conquer the natural world.’ To what extent do you agree?